In-situ AFM observations of the effect of addition of glass fibers and lignosulfonates on performance of the negative active mass of a lead-acid storage battery

Abstract

Abstract Surface visualization of a negative lead-acid battery electrode during charging and discharging using atomic force microscopy was performed. To accommodate the fine resolution of AFM and its inability to follow rough surfaces of the negative active mass of a real battery electrode, a smooth lead metal electrode was used. The focus was on the role of expanders on growth and dissolution of lead sulfate crystals. In one series of experiments we studied the effect of glass fibers embedded by pressure in the lead surface. The other series of experiments involved also glass fibers, but with the surface treated by lignosulfonates. It was observed that lignosulfonates suppress formation of the passivation layer on the electrode. On the other hand they cause higher polarization resistance of the electrode and reduce charge acceptance during charging.